Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Kosciusko County is leading the state in a program targeted at putting a free smoke detector in every residence in the county in an attempt to prevent fire-related deaths.
The unprecedented program is well-received by firefighters throughout Kosciusko County, as well as at the State Fire Marshal's Office.
The program, for which a committee of firefighters from various county departments has been seeking funding from area businesses and residents, begins Monday. That is also the start of National Fire Prevention Week.
More than $900 was already raised by Sept. 20, when the project was announced during the 56th Annual Kosciusko County Firemen's Association Fish Fry. The funds are being handled by the Kosciusko County Foundation.
State Fire Marshal Tracy Boatwright said Kosciusko County is the first of Indiana's 92 counties to undertake such a project, according to Warsaw Fire Department Inspector Michael Wilson, who is the project's coordinator.
"This is a great idea with the smoke detectors," said District 22 State Rep. Bill Ruppel (R-North Manchester). "You may as well be first with it," he told firefighters. Ruppel, too, is a volunteer firefighter and has served 23 years on the North Manchester Fire Department.
Mentone Fire Department Chief Butch Warren also is supportive of the project. He said he never wants to carry another dead child out of a burning house. "Push this smoke detector program," he told fellow firefighters.
There have been five fire fatalities in Kosciusko County this year, including a 64-year-old woman who died Wednesday in her home. Officials believe Martha Lewallen of Syracuse was asleep when the fire broke out and do not believe there were smoke detectors in the home. Although Lewallen was reportedly hard of hearing, Syracuse Fire Department Chief Larry Hunter said a smoke detector sounding may have awakened the woman and prevented her death.
Hunter said that his department has been conducting a smoke detector program in town limits for a couple years already, but not many people take advantage of it. There are currently smoke detectors available at the SFD for Syracuse residents. Hunter said he thinks the countywide program, with firefighters going door-to-door, is a good idea and will probably work out better than just announcing it, because people might read it in a newspaper and think it's a good idea but won't take the time to stop and pick one up.
Warsaw Fire Department also has an ongoing smoke detector giveaway program for city residents.
None of the residences where the five fire fatalities occurred in Kosciusko County this year had working smoke detectors in them.
One of the deaths was a youngster and that tragedy prompted the Kosciusko County Coroner's Office, the Fire Investigation Team of Kosciusko County and the KCFA to undertake the challenge of the project "for the safety of all our neighbors, friends and your employees," according to a letter being circulated for donations to the project.
Not only has Kosciusko County experienced fire-related deaths, but there also has been a total of 57 fire deaths in Indiana this year. Of those fire fatalities, at least 26 occurred in homes without working smoke detectors.
"We know from experience that smoke detectors do save lives," stated the letter signed by Wilson and KCFA president Mitch Rader of the Leesburg Fire Department. "We have witnessed this in past house fires where working smoke detectors have alerted residents. Disturbingly, many of us in the fire service have witnessed the terrible circumstance of those who perish in a house fire due to the lack of a properly installed working smoke detector."
A related press release indicates this project "is for the well being of all residents of Kosciusko County. As firefighters, maybe we cannot prevent fires from occurring, but we can take a positive role in preventing fire-related deaths."
The cost of the smoke detectors is $10 each and the project has a goal of placing 34,000 in county homes.
Committee member Kreg Warren of the Warsaw Fire Department said the group hopes to keep costs down by buying in bulk and also plans to purchase the smoke detectors locally.
Donations for the smoke detectors are tax-deductible and can be made to Kosciusko County Foundation, Smoke Detector Fund, 102 E. Market St., Warsaw IN 46580.
For more information on the project, call 372-9502.
